Tamil Nadu asked about detention of 113 people

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Friday sought a report from the Tamil Nadu government on the illegal detention of 113 people during a drive to remove mentally ill people from the streets.

Taking suo motu cognisance of the matter, the NHRC issued notice to the chief secretary of the Tamil Nadu government seeking a report within four weeks.

According to a statement from the rights body, the commission observed in its proceedings on June 14 that the contents of the press report, if true, raise a serious issue of human rights of the victims.

The report on June 8 said about 113 people, who apparently looked dirty or a little disoriented, were sent to the Institute of Mental Health, Kilpauk, the NHRC said, adding that they were reportedly migrant labourers from other states with no knowledge of local language.

According to the NHRC, the 113 people were picked up under a drive to remove mentally ill people from the street and were imprisoned for two weeks.

They were let off after obtaining their thumb impressions on a statement which said they were voluntarily seeking admission in the Institute of Mental Health.